cardiac ablation

Used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm
problems, cardiac ablation is performed at ST. FRANCIS downtown in Greenville, which is convenient to Upstate, SC and surrounding areas.

candidates for procedure

Cardiac ablation is a procedure that destroys areas in the heart that cause heart
rhythm problems. During the procedure, small wires called electrodes are placed
inside the heart to measure its electrical activity and destroy the bad areas
of the heart.

Cardiac ablation can be used to treat heart rhythm problems, especially atrial
fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal, rapid heartbeat in which the
upper heart chambers (atria) contract in a disorganized manner. This is caused
by a disruption of the normal electrical conduction system of the heart.

Normally, the four chambers of the heart (two atria and two ventricles) contract
in a very specific, coordinated way. An electrical impulse that signals your heart
to contract in a synchronized way begins in the sinoatrial node (SA node). This
node is your heart's natural pacemaker.

The signal leaves the SA node and travels through the two upper chambers (atria).
Then the signal passes through another node (the AV node), and finally, through
the lower chambers (ventricles). This path enables the chambers to contract in
a coordinated fashion.

In atrial fibrillation, the atria are stimulated to contract very quickly and
differently from the normal pattern. The impulses are sent to the ventricles in
an irregular pattern, making the ventricles beat abnormally and leading to an
irregular pulse.

Some patients need only medication management to control their irregular heartbeat.
For others, cardiac ablation can permanently cure the arrhythmia.
Speak with a Greenville or Upstate, SC area St. Francis physician to learn more
about this treatment option.

surgical options

Cardiac ablation is a minimally-invasive procedure that begins in much the same
way as a cardiac catheterization. A surgeon makes a small cut into one of the blood vessels in either the neck,
arm or groin. Then, a small, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted through
this cut. The doctor uses live x-ray images to carefully guide the catheter up
into the heart.

Once the catheter is in place, several flexible tubes that contain electrodes
are run through the catheter. These are placed in different small blood vessels
in the heart and are connected to monitors that tell what area is causing problems
with heart rhythm.

One of the catheter lines sends electrical energy to the problem area to create
a scar. The scarring causes the heart rhythm problem to stop.

St. Francis provides comprehensive cardiac care, including advanced treatments
for irregular heartbeat caused by atrial fibrillation or other types of arrhythmia.
Speak with a Greenville or Upstate, SC area St. Francis physician to learn more
about these treatment options.